LB How 2s: Finding Boxes

Once you have your gear and your clues now you need to go out and find the boxes!
Remember when you head out, the box may or may not be there. Always check when last the box was found before heading out. If you want to be the boxer who goes out and confirms the missing box go right ahead! You might be a hero saving the box and showing it’s still there.
Any who, try to find out about the area you are going to be hiking through. You will want to know if the area may be unsafe during the day and/or night, if there might be dangerous animals like bears, and when closing and opening times are.
Where ever you are hiking around looking for letterboxes remember to be stealthy. There are noxers (non boxers) out there and you don’t want them to know what you are doing. Also be respectful. A lot of boxes are hidden at historic location, cemeteries, and parks so you want to be respectful while out on these ground. Abide by the park rules. Don’t pick flowers or disturb the forest and don’t feed the bears! But there will be one rule you will always break, going off the trail. Can’t really get around that and you’ll be busted for picking flowers and less likely busted for going off trail. Also, if you bring your dog please pick up after him/her. No one wants to step in dog poo and don’t leave any trash behind. Leave the area better then you found it.
When you follow the clues and find the box, take out the stamp and stamp it into your book. After that, return the stamp to the box and take out the boxes’ log book. Stamp your personal stamp in the logbook, put your trailname, date, where you’re from, then return the logbook. Lastly, you then need to replace the box back where it was hidden. If you moved leaves, sticks, bark, ect. to find the box, make sure you put it all back so it’s well hidden. You don’t want the box visible from the trail or a noxer could pick it up!
Another good thing to do is carry around baggies and duct tape to fix up a box if it’s in bad shape. If its way beyond a simple repair contact the owner and let them know.
After all this is done don’t forget to log your find on atlasquest or letterboxing.org!
Remember to be safe, be respectful, and to have fun while letterboxing!
~Catchow